**Okay… truth is I was struggling to write the funeral for like… the last two weeks and then decided… screw it and I'm not just posting it, I'll struggle with the funeral some more later lol, cuz I'm sure you guys want your updates, I know I get annoyed when it takes any longer than like 2 weeks lol. Truth is, I've never been to a funeral and I really don't know what they are like and I really have no idea how to have Kaiba react… anyway, read away lol, and please read the A/N at the end, I need ur guys help…**

Denile

"You're lying," Kaiba said into the phone, not really a command but a question, almost as if he were begging.

"I'm sorry Mr. Kaiba," the voice quivered slightly.

Kaiba wasn't even aware of Serenity who was pulling urgently on his sleeve, screaming his name as the just stood, his eyes looking forward, but not really seeing what was in front of him. He didn't believe it, he couldn't believe it. It wasn't true, Mokuba couldn't be dead, Mokuba couldn't die. Kaiba has promised to always protect him, to never let anyone hurt him. He'd always been there, just when Mokuba had needed him, how could he have possibly died.

Because I was distracted, Kaiba thought to himself, with that girl. Kaiba glanced down at Serenity's worried face and felt his brow deepen as a sudden burst of hatred for the helpless female burst through him like a stampede. No! he thought, immediately dismissing it, no, I love her… Kaiba stood, fighting with his emotions for several moments, first not believe it, and then believing it and blaming it on himself, or Serenity, he fought several urges to pull his arm back and strike the girl who was all but his life.

What's wrong with me? Kaiba questioned himself, finally allowing the phone to drop from his white knuckles, falling to the floor. Kaiba moved his hand to his forehead, tilting his head forward slightly and staring at the floor. Kaiba head throbbed, it felt like his eyes were going to pop right out of his head. Everything throbbed, he could feel line of pain forming just behind his eyes, from one temple to the other. White shots of blinding pain course through his pulsing temples.

Between the beating white pulses, Kaiba noticed Serenity grab for the phone that seemed to slowly fall to the ground. It hit the tip of her fingers, and bounced further away from her eager hand, her other arm reached out quickly, latching onto the long, thin antenna. She quickly fumbled with the phone from where she was now positioned on her knees, pressing it urgently to her ear.

"Who is this?" She demanded forcefully.

"Is Mr. Kaiba alright?" the voice asked.

"Who are you?" Serenity shrieked.

"This is the Officer Leigh ma'am, I'm with the domino police department," the woman repeated herself for Serenity.

"What do you want?" Serenity asked quickly, "Is anything wrong?"

"What relation do you have to the Kaiba's ma'am?"

"I'm Seto's wife, and Mokuba's sister in law, why?" Serenity asked even more hurriedly.

"Mrs. Kaiba, we would like to speak with you in person," the voice suddenly said quickly.

"Why, what's wrong?" Serenity demanded.

"If we could just come to your home and have a few moments of your time…" the voice trailed off.

"Of course," Serenity said quickly. "Is it important?"

"Yes ma'am, we'll be right over."

"Yea, of course, please hurry!" Serenity said, clicking the phone shut and then standing up to look at Kaiba. Something was wrong, something terrible must have happened to have put Kaiba in the state he was in so very quickly. Was Kaiba Corp. robbed? Serenity though, just throwing ideas everywhere. That cant be it, he would be doing more that just standing there, perhaps… Mokuba…

"Seto?" Serenity said urgently, grabbing his un-occupied hand. "Seto what's wrong? What's wrong with Mokuba?" Serenity's eyes widened slightly as Kaiba yanked his hand back, replacing it to his side, not even looking at her. "Seto…" Serenity said quietly, biting her bottom lip. "Seto tell me what's wrong… please…" tears began to form in Serenity's eyes as Kaiba just stood, not even glancing at her, hardly breathing.

Then the doorbell rang and Kaiba looked up as the melody rang through out the five story house. His hands both lowered to his sides and he glared at the door, thinking for a moment before striding towards it, nearly running into Serenity who had to quickly jump out of the way of the preoccupied man to avoid being clobbered right into.

Serenity whimpered slightly from where she was now positioned on the floor as a wave of slightly nausea came over her, it quickly passed however and Serenity rose to her feet and ran out the door her angry husband had just left. Though, he wasn't on the stairs however, so he must have gone in the other direction, to his room or something. Serenity however, was eager to find out what was going on and decided to pull at Mokuba to get to the first floor faster.

Placing the long, polished railing in the groove between her butt cheek and the beginning of her leg, just as Mokuba had taught her, Serenity steadied her balance and lifted her feet sending her sliding gracefully down the wooden banister. She flew off the end of it onto the second floor, nearly falling as another wave of nausea over came her and then made a made dash for the end of the hall where the final banister started. This one was slightly more complicated because it curved down spirally into Kaiba's ballroom like entrance room.

Serenity could see out of the corner of her eyes as the butler invited the police into the room. She continued to concentrate on her sliding though, finally flying off the end doing a nice little side step move Mokuba had taught her she should do if she ever landed on the side of her foot. She practically slid right in front of the police, unable to get any grip with just her socks, panting slightly quickly motioned her arm into an area that often sufficed as a seating area in the large room.

"What's wrong?" Serenity quickly asked as the sat down.

"You might like to sit-"

"Just tell me what's wrong!" Serenity shrieked, much louder than she had intended.

"It's about your brother in law, Mokuba Kaiba," the female officer said slowly.

"Yes, I gathered that by Seto's reaction, what's wrong with him? He's not hurt is he? In Jail?"

"He's been murdered…" the woman finally said.

The air Serenity had been breathing suddenly seemed un motionless in her throat is the words were spoken. Tears appeared in her eyes and she acknowledged what the officer had just said. Her knees were suddenly weak and hardly able to keep her standing, she felt two strong arms wrap around her upper body as they finally collapsed and she gave into her tears and allowed them to flow. But only for several moments did she allow for this to happen before she tore herself away from whoever it had been and forced herself to move towards the stairs one foot at a time.

Kaiba needed her, he would need her support, her love, he would need her more than she needed him. Mokuba was his little brother and once upon a time the only think Kaiba care for even slightly. But Serenity's knees still wouldn't support the emotions that were running wild through her body. She forced her hands to assist, going up the stairs as fast as she could on her hands and knees, blinded by tears.

Up the first flight of stairs, stumbling drunkenly down the hallway to the second flight of stairs, coughing hysterically as she forced herself to run down the second hallway, choking on the phlegm building up in her throat she climbed the third stairs case. Serenity limped down the fourth hallway due to an injury she had caused herself climbing the third stair case until she finally made it to the end of the never ending hallway and glared hatefully up the last stair case, which was the last obstacle in her way to getting to where she wanted to be. The adrenaline that had been pumping through her veins for the first four floors was now gone and she felt her eyes dropping heavily, begging to be shut and allowing her to sleep, to escape the nightmare she was now living.

"I…" her voice trailed off as she lifted her left foot, placing it on the first step. "Have…" she said again, choking slightly as she lifted her second foot, placing it on the second stair. "Help…" she said, he knuckles turning white as she went up two more stairs. "Ahh…" the pain in her ankle caused her to fall to the stairs, finally going unconscious from all the pain she had afflicted upon herself.

"Me…" Kaiba said quietly from the top of the stairs, his white coat flailing slightly he looked down at the young girl, contemplating going to help the now unconscious beauty. What am I doing? He asked himself, almost disgusted. I am just standing here, watching my wife torture herself to try and help me… that was the end of the argument. Kaiba quickly climbed down the stairs and picked up his unconscious wife, carrying her the rest of the way up the stairs and laying her in their bed.

Kaiba kicked off his shoes and climbed onto the bed, leaning again the head stand and pulling Serenity onto his lap, leaning her limp body on one arm and studying her blotchy face. He wiped some of the excess tears from her face with his thumb. He clenched his teeth tightly, fighting his own emotions, he couldn't cry, he wouldn't cry… Kaiba watched as Serenity stirred slightly and then he eyes opened slowly.

"Seto…" her voice trailed off as she tried to raise one weak arm. She was trying to be strong, but her eyes betrayed the pain she was really experiencing, Kaiba couldn't help it as his expression softened slightly and his throat tightened, couldn't cry…. Wouldn't cry… Serenity's eyes watered up again as she remember why she was in the state she was, Kaiba felt his own eyes glaze over as his emotions betrayed him.

Mokuba was his little brother, his only little brother, his entire reason for existing for his entire life until he met Serenity and the two shared the privilege. Mokuba was gone, his little brother was dead. Kaiba pulled Serenity tighter into his arms, swearing within his mind never to let it happen again but for now, he could cry, he would cry… and he did.

~*~*~*~*~

"Yes Master Kaiba?" a young girl asked as she entered the office of the 26-year-old CEO.

"Find me a number for the American Government, I want to speak with someone who will be able to tell me who's the best and how to get a hold of them," Kaiba said, starting out the window of his of his office, the back of his large office chair facing his young secretary.

"Yes Master Kaiba," The girl said, backing out of the room and closing the door quietly.

Kaiba was determined to find Mokuba' murderers, determined to find them and make their lives living hell. He didn't want them to go to Jail, or be put to death, he wanted them worked to death, as painfully and cruelly as possible. He wanted it slow, or perhaps have them eaten by some savage beast, several savage beasts, watch as they got ripped into pieces, as the great Siberian tigers played tug of war with their arms and devoured their heads.

It was a pleasant thought, but it Kaiba was to be practical he knew it wouldn't happen, but he was determined to find the killers and determined to have the put into the worst jail in the world for as long as they lived. Kaiba pictured an average height man with a shaggy brown beard, littered with gray hairs and a semi bald head, missing one eye, all bloody and scared, hands blistered and bleeding as they move 3000 pound boulders with their hands. Yes, that would be pleasing as well, though unlikely in Japan.

Perhaps he could have them sent to some poor country, the lowest rank he can get them, fighting for food, starving to death. Kaiba watched as they picked corn in the scalding summer sun, their children throwing rocks at crows and their older daughter being raped by the soldiers and they slowly rotted away to nothing. It was appealing, but not nearly so as the lions ripping them to pieces.

Kaiba couldn't help but smirk slightly as he thought such thoughts. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Kaiba was feeling very irritable, he didn't like being interrupted, especially not now. "What?" he asked, purposely making his voice sound as un inviting as possible.

"There's a phone call for you on line 1 sir," the girl squeaked quickly, waiting for him to wave her off, which he did quickly to her relief.

"What?" he demanded into the receiver after spinning in his chair and picking up the phone.

"So sorry Master Kaiba, but it Serenity. She hasn't gotten out of bed since you left and she doesn't eat much, what she does eat she throws right back up, we wonder what you wish us to do…" she female voice of one of his maids said into the phone.

"How the hell am I supposed to know?" Kaiba demanded. "I'm not a doctor!"

"Do you wish us to take her to the hospital sir?" the maid asked.

"My personal doctors and ten times better than those lousy excuses for medical people. Call them," Kaiba said, about to hang up when the maid spoke again.

"Sir, they suggest you come home as soon as you can, they believe there to be more going on with Serenity that we can tell."

"She's depressed, that's all, she'll get over it," Kaiba said almost angrily.

"Sir, please-"

"I'm on a business trip woman, I cant just come home because my wife is crying," Kaiba was getting impatient.

"Let me talk-" a quiet voice in the background said.

"No, Mistress Kaiba you mustn't-"

"Give me the fucking phone Marie!" Serenity said angrily. "Where are you?" Serenity demanded angrily into the phone.

"I don't really see why you think you need to know my every move," Kaiba said dryly.

"Mokuba's funeral is tomorrow Seto and no ones seen you for three days! No one knows where you are or if you are even alive anymore! There are rumors going around that you killed yourself! What am I supposed to do?" Serenity asked, more desperately this time.

"Go to the funeral, cry some more, lye in bed and wallow in your self pity, do whatever the hell you want, I've got work to do," Kaiba said, lowering the phone towards the receiver.

"Kaiba you can't hide in your work forever!" Serenity screamed into the phone, but then the other line went silent. Serenity threw the phone angrily at the ground, hearing a satisfying crunch that quickly went away as Serenity began crying again. She didn't know what to do anymore, Kaiba was gone, in America is what one of his agents had told her, and he was apparently not coming back for the funeral. He had done nothing but work since he found out, he hardly slept for the three days he had at least stayed in the country. He hardly ate, barley communicated with Serenity at all, he was like a Zombie. When he was home all he did was sit at his desk with his eyes glued to his computer. He pushed Serenity away, further and further away, so away that in the last six days when he did sleep at home he's slept on the couch in his office rather than in their bed with her. He was quickly falling into a depression that, if Serenity didn't hurry, he would never come back out of.

~*~*~*~*~

'You can't hid in your work forever!'

I'm not hiding, Kaiba thought to himself. I'm not even actually doing work… he tried to convince himself, which wasn't entirely true. He had flown to the other side of the world for a conference, trying to convince the United States that they needed their own Kaiba Corp. in their country. The general idea was that someone else would run it, but would have to follow all of his rules. The Americans called in franchising, Kaiba considered it a half decent reason not to go to the funeral as well. He didn't think he could bare it, and there was the slightly chance that he may in some way shape or form be unable to disguise his grief with Mokuba's pale body in front of him and he couldn't risk his reputation.

Kaiba suddenly felt a pang of regret for hanging up on his wife. She was only trying to help him and he just continued to push her further and further away. Kaiba suddenly felt a great urge to wrap his arms around his little wife, the only living thing he cared for anymore. To kiss her soft lips and runs his fingers through her long auburn hair. Her smiling face was suddenly picture in his mind, he allowed a small smile to appear on his lips, then a picture of Mokuba and Serenity playing their xXx box came to his mind. His smile quickly faded as thoughts of Serenity were replaced by thoughts of his late brother.

Kaiba felt the anger arise in his, and even more so when another knock came at the door. "What?!" Kaiba nearly screamed.

"I'm sorry Master Kaiba, but your wife is on the phone sir…" the girl said, not even opening the door this time.

Kaiba shut his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply before picking up the phone and placing it to his ear. "What?" he said dryly.

"Seto… I'm sorry…" Serenity's trembling voice said.

Kaiba felt his barrier quiver slightly as Serenity's singing voice apologized. For the last four months he had seen her every day, he'd watched her cry, and watched her as she was angry, and happy and excited. He missed her smiling face more now that he ever had before. Since Mokuba had passed away he often felt himself wanting her more and more that they were apart, she filled some of the vast gap that he now possessed.

"I-… please come home…" she said quietly, and then she was silent. All Kaiba could here on the other side of the phone was her trembling breath as she awaited his answer, fearing he would say no. Kaiba heard Serenity choke slightly as she tried not to cry more as he continued to sit silently, considering what she said. "Please… at least tell me…" she didn't continue.

"I still love you," he said quietly after several more moments of ackward silence. Kaiba heard Serenity exhale slowly and then heard a loud thump, a crash as the phone hit the floor and the maid scream.

"Serenity?" Kaiba asked urgently, sitting up straight in his black leather chair. "Serenity!" he said more urgently as he heard the maid yell something about 911 and then the other line went dead. Kaiba procrastinated no longer, he clicked his laptop shut, stood up and strode out the door, yelling something at the young girl at the desk near the door to his office about phoning the military base and having his helicopter prepared and that he was going home.

"But sir, you have a conference in 45 minutes," the girl tried to say, but Kaiba strode right past her, concentrating wholly on Serenity.

~*~*~*~*~

"Mistress Kaiba, I really wish that you would reconsider!"

"I am not going to miss my brother in laws funeral just because I'm tired and depressed!" Serenity said angrily, pulling out a long, lacey black dress from her closet. She felt her eyes water slightly as she pulled the dress over her head, she stopped, leaning against the wall for a moment as she fought with her emotions again. Her eyes hurt like hell, she had to squint wherever she looked from crying to often and not getting enough sleep or food. She didn't know what was wrong with her but it seemed that everything she ate just wouldn't stay down, but that wasn't a new thing, it had been like that before Mokuba had died.

The doctors had told her that she really should be going, she shouldn't even have gotten out of bed. But she had, and she was determined to go to the funeral, weather Kaiba came or not. Mind you, if he didn't it would take a lot whole hell of a lot to make Serenity even remotely pleased with him again.

Serenity studied her appearance in the mirror as she tied up the front of the dress, it seemed almost too slutty for the occasion, as some amounts of her cleavage could be seen, not that she really even had the much. She sighed, yanking one last time on the strings before double tying the bow and then turning around, doing the same with the laces just above her tail bone, it would have to do. It didn't really matter what she looked like, it was a funeral, not a party. Serenity took one last look in the mirror, contemplating doing something with her hair but decided to leave it down despite it's slightly shaggy look.

Serenity walked towards the door to her bedroom, opening it slowly, doing all she could to keep herself from crying yet again. She walked slowly down to the end of the hall and down the stairs even slower. Any fast movements would cause her to lose control of her emotions, though the slow ones didn't seem to help to much for she just had more time to think about everything.

Serenity bit down on her bottom lip hard as she could possible do without shedding blood to stop herself from collapsing right their into a heap of hysterical sobs yet again. She choked slightly as a single tear managed to escape the pool that filled her eyes. Finally, on the flight of stairs leading from third floor to the second she lost control, slamming into the wall and sliding down it, her arms wrapped around her head and she cried again.

"Why… why Mokuba?" she asked herself quietly in between sobs. "How could someone do that to Mokuba?" Serenity felt a rage within her rise, like a flame to gas. Serenity's emotions bounced from angry and sad, from grieving Mokuba to contemplating murder herself. She loved Mokuba, everyone loved Mokuba. He had been sweet and kind to everyone, never mean, how could someone kill him?!

Serenity's crying ceased slowly, but she had given herself a headache from breathing so quickly. Breathing deeply several more times Serenity slowly rose to her feet and began walking down the stairs again, this time with more speed.

**You know, I'm realising as I sit here typing this tha ti never got it edited… my bad guys lol, have it anyway, if it's so bad you can't understand it, just let me know and I'll get it edited and re-post it… probably will anyway, but have it for now anyway. Okay, now I need your guys' help. I really have no idea what happens at a funeral, like what they say and crap like that and I really have no idea how Kaiba should react to this… SO I concentrated mostly on Serenity in this chapter… I need your guys' help for the rest… for those hove been to a funeral, let me know what happens… like what the priest talk about and what the family usually babbles about and generally exactly what happens, in detail preferable (if you can…) and then… I also wanna know what you guys expect from Kaiba so I can mutilate it and do the exactly opposite lol… no, I just wanna know because I'm not entirely sure what to do with him… ugh I'm so confused…**